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Half a century ago, Belgian Zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans first codified cryptozoology in his book On the Track of Unknown Animals.

The Centre for Fortean Zoology (CFZ) are still on the track, and have been since 1992. But as if chasing unknown animals wasn't enough, we are involved in education, conservation, and good old-fashioned natural history! We already have three journals, the largest cryptozoological publishing house in the world, CFZtv, and the largest cryptozoological conference in the English-speaking world, but in January 2009 someone suggested that we started a daily online magazine! The CFZ bloggo is a collaborative effort by a coalition of members, friends, and supporters of the CFZ, and covers all the subjects with which we deal, with a smattering of music, high strangeness and surreal humour to make up the mix.

It is edited by CFZ Director Jon Downes, and subbed by the lovely Lizzy Bitakara'mire (formerly Clancy), scourge of improper syntax. The daily newsblog is edited by Corinna Downes, head administratrix of the CFZ, and the indexing is done by Lee Canty and Kathy Imbriani. There is regular news from the CFZ Mystery Cat study group, and regular fortean bird news from 'The Watcher of the Skies'. Regular bloggers include Dr Karl Shuker, Dale Drinnon, Richard Muirhead and Richard Freeman.The CFZ bloggo is updated daily, and there's nothing quite like it anywhere else. Come and join us...

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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

A word about cryptolinks: we are not responsible for the content of cryptolinks, which are merely links to outside articles that we think are interesting (sometimes for the wrong reasons), usually posted up without any comment whatsoever from me.

Human characteristics are attributed to many legendary creatures. As part of this anthropomorphization, these mythological animals are often given language abilities. Fairies, elves, gnomes, goblins and genies of folklore speak human languages, and usually in addition to their own tongues. Many fiction writers have created artificial languages and writing systems for these creatures, including J. R. R. Tolkien’s Elvish languages. As for the undead, vampires retain the language skills they had when they were still alive. Zombies are no longer sparkling conversationalists, but they can still mutter “brains!” In popular paranormal theory, ghosts and spirits are believed to communicate with the living, although they often require a medium, or a device designed to contact the dead.

Cryptids are alleged animals whose existence has not been proven scientifically, like the Loch Ness Monster. According to legend, some cryptids are believed to have language skills too, especially hybrid-human creatures, such as Spring-heeled Jack, the Mothman, mermaids, and monkey men. An early version of the mythical goat-sucking chupacabra could allegedly understand Spanish, although not speak it. There are numerous anecdotal reports that the Indonesian cryptid Orang-Pendek (“small human”) communicates using vocalizations similar to non-human primates. What about the most infamous cryptid of all: Bigfoot?

In an article for the first edition of Cryptozoology Bernard Heuvelmans wrote that cryptozoology is the study of 'unexpected animals' and following on from that perfectly reasonable assertion, it seems to us that whereas the study of out-of-place birds may not have the glamour of the hunt for bigfoot or lake monsters, it is still a perfectly valid area for the Fortean zoologist to be interested in. So after about six months of regular postings on the main bloggo Corinna took the plunge and started a 'Watcher of the Skies' blog of her own as part of the CFZ Bloggo Network.

1. The Great Yokai Encyclopaedia by Richard Freeman (1)2. Haunted Skies Volume Six by John Hanson and Dawn Holloway (8)3. Wildman! by Nick Redfern (-)4=. Haunted Skies Volume Two by John Hanson and Dawn Holloway (3)4=. Haunted Skies Volume Five by John Hanson and Dawn Holloway (-)

4=. Monstrum by Tony 'Doc' Shiels (-)

7=. Haunted Skies Volume One by John Hanson and Dawn Holloway (-)

7=. Haunted Skies Volume Three by John Hanson and Dawn Holloway (5)

7=. Those Amazing Newfoundland dogs by Jan Bondeson (6)

7=. Terror of the Tokoloshei by S. D Tucker (-)

US

1. The Cryptid Creatures of Florida by Scott Marlowe (4)2. When Bigfoot Attacks by Michael Newton (6)3. The Great Yokai Encyclopaedia by Richard Freeman (1)4. The CFZ Yearbook 2013(-)5=. The Inhumanoids by Bart Nunnelly (3)

Last month's positions in thispinky colour, which I think is calledcerise. Sales are quiet as they always are in the summer, but I would like to say thank you for all the hard work Emsy has put in on theFacebook Group. Thank you honey.

It was a clear, fine evening in 1882 when the captain and
crew of the German steamer Kätie, en route from New York to Newcastle, sailing
about eight miles off the Butt of Lewis, sighted something ahead in the water.

Captain Weisz recorded that there was a dark object lying on
the surface of the water about 2 miles from the ship. At first it was thought
to be an abandoned wreck, the highest part being the bow, the rest resembling
the jumbled waterlogged remains of a ship. As the Kätie got nearer the crew
could see the water eddying round it as though moving over something large
beneath the surface.

On getting nearer however, it became clear it wasn't an
abandoned vessel they were seeing. Now the dark, hilly mass resembled dangerous
rocks and cliffs. The captain, being familiar with the area, knew there were no
such dangers in the vicinity, and so the mystery deepened.

The object lay quite still for some time; then out of the
water rose a fin about ten feet in height, reckoned to be about 80 feet from the
visible end. This fin moved a few times while the body gradually sank below the
surface of the water; the highest end then rose up and was seen to be a tail of
enormous dimensions.

The visible part of the creature was estimated to measure
about 150 feet in length; the hills or humps, which were from three to four feet in
height, and about six or seven feet apart, were smaller towards the tail. No head was
observed before the creature disappeared from sight.

You can listen to this show on the following link morton through midnightit is an hour and seven minutes into the show

For the last thirty years I have been
trying to get hold of a copy of Ken Campbell's 'School For Clowns'. It was
originally shown on an ITV children's programme, repeated once and then
forgotten about. Even Ken didn't havce a copy. I know, because I asked him
repeatedly. Now it has been released as an extra on the DVD box of Dramarama
and it is still as anarchically wonderful as ever. I laughed all the way
through. It has to be said, however, that Corinna sat looking stony faced with
her "my husband is an idiot, and furthermore a puerile one" expression on her
lovely visage. Richard Freeman arrives later for a Weird Weekend meeting, and I
am very much looking forward to showing it to him. I wonder whether he will like
it as much as me...

* The Gonzo Daily is a two way process. If
you have any news or want to write for us, please contact me at jon@eclipse.co.uk.
If you are an artist and want to showcase your work, or even just say hello
please write to me at gonzo@cfz.org.uk.
Please copy, paste and spread the word about this magazine as widely as
possible. We need people to read us in order to grow, and as soon as it is
viable we shall be invading more traditional magaziney areas. Join in the fun,
spread the word, and maybe if we all chant loud enough we CAN stop it raining.
See you tomorrow...

* The Gonzo Daily is - as the name implies - a
daily online magazine (mostly) about artists connected to the Gonzo Multimedia
group of companies. But it also has other stuff as and when the editor feels
like it. The same team also do a weekly newsletter called - imaginatively - The
Gonzo Weekly. Find out about it at this link: http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2012/11/all-gonzo-news-wots-fit-to-print.html

* We should probably mention here, that
some of our posts are links to things we have found on the internet that we
think are of interest. We are not responsible for spelling or factual errors in
other people's websites. Honest guv!

* Jon Downes, the Editor of all
these ventures (and several others) is an old hippy of 53 who - together with
his orange cat (who is currently on sick leave in Staffordshire) and two very
small kittens (one of whom is also orange) puts it all together from a converted
potato shed in a tumbledown cottage deep in rural Devon which he shares with
various fish, and sometimes a small Indian frog. He is ably assisted by his
lovely wife Corinna, his bulldog/boxer Prudence, his elderly mother-in-law, and
a motley collection of social malcontents. Plus.. did we mention the orange
cat?

Today is already shaping up to be a
fun-filled and confusing one. All sorts of stuff is happening. The Weird Weekend
is looming down upon us. If you want to buy a ticket you should probably do it
now. If you are one of my old friends who thinks that you probably have a chance
to blag one off me successfully, again do it before it gets too late.

* The Gonzo Daily is a two way process. If you have any news
or want to write for us, please contact me at jon@eclipse.co.uk.
If you are an artist and want to showcase your work, or even just say hello
please write to me at gonzo@cfz.org.uk.
Please copy, paste and spread the word about this magazine as widely as
possible. We need people to read us in order to grow, and as soon as it is
viable we shall be invading more traditional magaziney areas. Join in the fun,
spread the word, and maybe if we all chant loud enough we CAN stop it raining.
See you tomorrow...

* The Gonzo Daily is - as the name implies - a
daily online magazine (mostly) about artists connected to the Gonzo Multimedia
group of companies. But it also has other stuff as and when the editor feels
like it. The same team also do a weekly newsletter called - imaginatively - The
Gonzo Weekly. Find out about it at this link: http://gonzo-multimedia.blogspot.com/2012/11/all-gonzo-news-wots-fit-to-print.html

* We should probably mention here, that some of our posts are links
to things we have found on the internet that we think are of interest. We are
not responsible for spelling or factual errors in other people's websites.
Honest guv!

* Jon Downes, the Editor of all these ventures (and several
others) is an old hippy of 53 who - together with his orange cat (who is
currently on sick leave in Staffordshire) and two very small kittens (one of
whom is also orange) puts it all together from a converted potato shed in a
tumbledown cottage deep in rural Devon which he shares with various fish, and
sometimes a small Indian frog. He is ably assisted by his lovely wife Corinna,
his bulldog/boxer Prudence, his elderly mother-in-law, and a motley collection
of social malcontents. Plus.. did we mention the orange
cat?

In an article for the first edition of Cryptozoology Bernard Heuvelmans wrote that cryptozoology is the study of 'unexpected animals' and following on from that perfectly reasonable assertion, it seems to us that whereas the study of out-of-place birds may not have the glamour of the hunt for bigfoot or lake monsters, it is still a perfectly valid area for the Fortean zoologist to be interested in. So after about six months of regular postings on the main bloggo Corinna took the plunge and started a 'Watcher of the Skies' blog of her own as part of the CFZ Bloggo Network.Bird Gut Boosts Wild Chili Seed Survival

IT HAS been the stuff of legends for as long as hikers have been traipsing through the wilderness.

But whether you believe this figure caught on camera by hikers in the Canadian wilderness is actually the legendary Bigfoot, or just a man in an ape suit, is all a matter of opinion.

Either way the sighting of the figure, which appears covered in thick black hair and is seen lumbering across the mountain top, has sparked plenty of excitement among Bigfoot fans. In the footage the figure walks from the trees into the open, pausing briefly before disappearing back into the trees.

It remains unclear exactly where the video was shot but it is believed to have been filmed on a trail near Mission, in British Columbia.

A word about cryptolinks: we are not responsible for the content of cryptolinks, which are merely links to outside articles that we think are interesting (sometimes for the wrong reasons), usually posted up without any comment whatsoever from me.

SCOTLAND’S most renowned mythical creature has been axed by religious educators.

Creationism is a religious position that largely believes the universe was created by a supernatural being. It focuses heavily on evolution and many of its followers reject the notion of a scientific explanation to the creation of life. It is estimated that around 2,000 students in the UK are taught creationism in private schools or through home schooling.

The previous edition of the schoolbook said: “Are dinosaurs alive today? Scientists are becoming more convinced of their existence. Have you heard of the ‘Loch Ness Monster’ in Scotland?” It continued: “‘Nessie’ for short has been recorded on sonar from a small submarine, described by eyewitnesses, and photographed by others. Nessie appears to be a plesiosaur.”

It was also claimed that a Japanese whaling boat once caught a dinosaur. In the latest edition, both of these claims have been removed.

USFWS to hold
public meeting on jaguar critical habitat on July 30

The
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold a public information session and public
hearing on the proposal to designate critical habitat for jaguars on Tuesday,
July 30, 2013 in Sierra Vista.

The meeting will be held at Buena High
School Performing Arts Center at 5225 Buena School Blvd., Sierra Vista. The
informational portion of the meeting will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m., and the
public hearing will occur from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

In 2012, the Arizona
Game and Fish Department submitted comments to the Service on the jaguar
critical habitat proposal. Because lands in Arizona and New Mexico make up less
than one percent of the species' historic range and are not essential to the
conservation of the species, the department has asked that the proposal be
withdrawn.

Conservation of the species is entirely reliant on
activities in the jaguar's primary habitat of Central and South America to be
successful. The six areas identified as proposed jaguar critical habitat in
Arizona already offer protection to the species through the Endangered Species
Act. The vast majority of the proposed critical habitat area is public land that
is already under federal management jurisdiction or federally-approved
conservation plans.

Game and Fish believes that the unwarranted
designation of critical habitat for jaguars would likely result in denial of
access to lands for jaguar conservation and research efforts; fewer observations
of jaguars being reported; and, less timely sighting reports from people that do
choose to report a jaguar.

When the sun shines the world can
generally seem a happier and healthier place. But don't be fooled - our natural
world is still very much under threat and we continue apace with our work
protecting it and challenging Government to tackle the loss of nature. This
month, we're also excited about our new event - Big Wild Sleepout. Read on to
find out more about this, plus much, much more.

Sleep outside and fundraise for nature

Take part in Big Wild Sleepout - supported by
Rightmove and Blacks - between 9-11 August. Put up a tent, build a makeshift
shelter or, if you're brave enough, simply sleep out under the stars. You can do
it in your own garden, or join us at an organised RSPB sleepout event where
we're hosting a range of sleepouts and other night-themed events.

You'll
not only discover the night-time nature near you, but by getting friends and
family to make a donation towards your adventure, you'll also be raising money
for conservation projects that protect birds, wildlife and the places they live.

We've teamed up with Headwater Holidays -
experts in walking and cycling holidays - to bring you a brilliant offer on a
range of wildlife focused, self-guided holidays that you can enjoy at your own
pace.

Book a Headwater break and receive five per cent off the price of
your holiday. And for every holiday booked we'll get a seven per cent donation
towards our conservation work. It's a win-win situation!

This month we're focusing on Big Wild Sleepout events. From sleeping
out at Ynys-Hir nature reserve, home to this year's BBC Springwatch, or enjoying
a night of moth-trapping and bat detecting at the Ulster Folk and Transport
Museum, to camping out at the magical reserve of Coombes Valley, or joining a
guided walk along the shores of Loch Lomond, these are just some of the events
running across the UK.